Kathmandu, Apr. 24: Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission Prithivi Raj Ligal has spoken of the need for all to seriously ponder the sustainable development of the country.

The National Planning Commission vice-chairman was inaugurating “The Construction Industries Training Centre” here on Sunday.

The training centre has been established with the joint efforts of Nepal Engineering College, the Society of Consulting Architects and Engineering Firms of Nepal and the Federation of the Contractors Association of Nepal.

The training centre also has representation from the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Institute of Engineering and the Koemanco Nepal.

On the occasion, Mr. Ligal pointed out the need for long-term vision for investing in the development and the construction works. He said it is the responsibility of all to see that development projects are completed in the stipulated time and are effectively managed.

Such training centres have added importance in a developing country like ours where there are limited means and resources, Mr. Ligal said, adding the technicians and manpower in the construction industries should be highly skilled and trained in order to face the challenges facing the construction sector. Joint-secretary at the ministry of Science and Technology Mohan Bahadur Karki said that such training centres could play an important role in training skilled manpower and providing quality services in the country. He also stressed the need for providing skill development training to the national work force at all levels.

Advisor of the World Bank Mr. N.D. Sharma, highlighting the importance of the construction industry in the all-round development of the country, said it is necessary to provide training to the policy-makers as well as the contractors for the long-term development of the construction sector.

Dean of the Institute of Engineering Jeev Raj Pokharel said it is necessary for all to move ahead in a coordinated manner for its effective management in the context of the construction industry emerging as an important industry of the country.

It is learnt the centre is going to conduct project administration and management training for the construction industries, construction management training for senior engineers and managers and construction project evaluation and follow-up training for overseers and new engineers by 2000.

Former president of the Society of Consulting Architects and Engineering Firms of Nepal Ishwar Raj Onta, general secretary of Nepal Engineering Association Hari Darshan Shrestha, president of the Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal Jeep Chhiring Lama and former president of the International Federation of the Contractors Associations of the Asia And Pacific Region Ganesh Lal Shrestha cast light on the importance of the construction industry.

President of the Construction Industries Training Centre Keshab Kunwar presided over the programme.